Apparatus for applying coloring material to nails



June 29, 1943;

H, M. MABRY 2,323,145

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING COLORING MATERIAL TO NAILS Filed Aug. 14', 1941 ATTORNEY 1N VENT OR.

Patented June 29, 1943' OFFICE APPARATUS on APPLYING COLORING MATERIAL T NAILS Helen Marshall'Mabry, New York, N. Y. Application August 14, 1941, Serial No. 406,929

2 Claims. (Cl.

This invention relates to improved means for use in manicuring or pedicuring and more particularly for use in cases where coloring, staining,

tinting or lacquering is to be applied to the nail and it is desired to prevent the tint, stain, lacquer or pigment or other material from coloring the adjacent flesh surrounding the nail.

A feature of this invention'is that it permits the coloring, tinting, staining, lacquering or otherwise pigmenting of the nail to be accomplished' effectively and also more expeditiously than is possible at'the present time when pains-\ taking care is required to prevent unsightly discoloration or -blotches on the flesh adjacent the nail.

eral contour with the shape of the nails. These stencils may be delivered in the form of strips ments and stains cannot be employed although they are more effective and more durable than many of the stains and pigments now used. By use of my invention, however, it is possible to employ many lacquers, stains and pigments not now employed because contact between the flesh and such stains or pigments is completely prevented by the use of my improvement.

Still another feature of my invention is a stencil which provides close adherence to the flesh adjacent the nail and prevents seepage of the. lacquer, stain or pigment against the flesh. It is not enough, generally speaking, merely to have a stencil which overlies the flesh adjacent the nail but it is highly desirable to make a close and practically impermeable junction. between the outeredges of the opening and the cuticle which will prevent a liquid, lacquer or stain from leaking or seeping beneath the stencil into con-' tact with the flesh. This is accomplished in my improved stencil by providing adhesive on the inner face of the stencil adjacent the flesh and along its inner edges which-will prevent any liquid from flowing or seeping beyond the edge of the opening in the stencil. Such adhesive is incorporated into the stencil or is applied in small quantities so the stencil can be readily removed after the coloring or pigmenting of the nail has been efiected.

Still another feature of my invention consists in providing a series of stencils either permanently or detachably connected together with openings of different sizes to correspond in gen- 'of flve, each being provided with an opening corresponding generally with the contour of one of the five digits, or in the form of a sheet containing any desired multiple of five stencils. 'I'he stencils may be permanently or detachably connected in a strip of five stencils, but in the sheets containing multiple strips preferably each strip of five, and if desired the individual stencils, are detachable from the others. The stencils may, if desired, 'be made in the form of a roll comprising an indefinite number of stencils, preferably in multiples of five each, detachable either singly or as a strip of five each.

If a material is used for the stencil which is easily severable, the perforations between the strips or the several stencils may be omitted and the strips or the individual stencils may be severed from the strip, sheet or roll by means of a knife, scissors or other suitable cutting tool.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates'a strip of stencils in which the moon of the nail is covered;

Fig. 2. illustrates a strip of stencil having perforations therein between the stencils for the individual digits in which the moon of the digit is exposed;

Fig. .3 illustrates the application of the stencil to a finger nail about to receive treatment; and Fig. 4 illustrates a plurality of stencil strips each comprising five stencils arranged in a sheet with perforations between the strips to permit detachment thereof and with perforations between some of the individual stencils to permit their separate detachment.

My improved stencil is made of any suitable pliable flexible and preferably somewhat elastic material which can easily be bent or deformed to fit snugly and tightly under and about the flesh adjacent the nail. Each individual stencil comprises a relatively small, rectangular section of material approximately the size of the top portion of a digit and is not intended to enclose or be completely wrapped around the digit but to rest on the surface thereof and be retained in place as hereinafter described. Various materials have been successfully used such as, Cellophane, Pliofllm, Plioseal, crepe paper, tissue paper, textiles and similar materials. In the case of papers and textiles it is desirable to coat or impregnate the same with a thin film or a water-resistant or water-repellent adhesive which will have certain inherent sticky or tacky qualities such as some of whereby manicuring and pedicuring may be accomplished easily, quickly and economically without danger oi staining-or blotching the adjacent the gums, resins and glues that are well known.

The adhesive must be applied in such manner and in such quantity that the stencil may be easily stripped or removed after being used.

As shown in the accompanying drawing, a series 7 of openings I at predetermined spaced intervals is cut out of a strip of material, each opening corresponding generally with the contour of the nail of -one of'the digits. Each strip 2 is preferably perforated as at 3 to permit easy detachment so as to leave a border of material about each opening of suflicient dimensions to cover the cuticle and the flesh around the nail and protect the same from any contact with the lacquer, stain or pigment or other coloring material that may be employed. The outer tip of the nail rests on .the outside of the border 4 oi the stencil opening whereby the flesh at the end of thedigit and beneath the nail is protected. The openings 1 may vary in size in different sets ofstencils to acconmiodate difl'erent shapes of nails. In general three sizeswill be sufllcient to meet all demands. I v

In applying my improved stencil the operator first detaches or cuts one of the stencils from the strip or roll. The detached stencil is then pressed firmly onto the digit to be treated in such position that the surface of the nail is exposed but the adjacent flesh is concealed and protected. The stencil at the edge of the opening is gently Pressed into close contact with or slightly underneath the cuticle at the outer edge of the nail.

After the stencil has been put in place and adjusted so that no part of theflesh is exposed to contact with the coloring material, the desired lacquenstain or pigment is easily and quickly applied to produce the desired tint or color. After the coloring material has dried the stencil may be removed easily by a slight pull.

As shown in Figs. 1 arid 3, one end of the stencil opening may be convexly curved to correspond generally with the contour of the lunule or moon of the nail and overlies and protects it against access of the coloring material. The stencil is not applied'to the nail itself but adheres to the flesh around the nail, except while the lunule is protected.

It is obvious that instead of exposing the entire outer surface of the nailthrough a single opening, a plurality of smaller openings may be provided so as to create the appearance of a design instead of a solid color on the surface of the nail. For example, an opening in the form of a flesh surrounding the nail. As soon as the stencil is in position and pressed in place, the coloring material can be applied promptly over the entire exposed surface or the nail without the careful tedious and painstaking painting or tinting operation now required. A much wider range of colors can be used, and also colors having a more durable and lasting quality than those now employed.

These advantages result in considerable measure from my invention of a new type of stencil which is intended and adapted to fit snugly and tightly over the flesh around the nail so as to form a seal impervious to liquid, while leavin the entire surface of the nail or predetermined portions thereof exposed to receive the coloring or pigmenting material.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A stencil for use in applying liquid coloring to a nail, said stencil being of substantially rectangular shape to engage the upper portion of a digit and being formed or pliable material having a water-resistant adhesive incorporated therein that will adhere to the flesh adjacent the nail and provided with an opening to expose a portion of the nail, the side border of said opening being deformable as to permit insertion between the cuticle and the nail, slightly underneath the cuticle and to form a liquid-tight joint with the cuticle if pressed into close contact with and slightly underneath the same whereby on application of liquid coloring to the nail the cuticle and the flesh adjacent the nail is protected against staining.

2. A stencil for use in applying liquid coloring to a nail, said stencil being of substantially rectangular shape to engage the upper portion of a digit and being formed of pliable material having a water-resistant adhesive incorporated therein that will adhere to the flesh adjacent the. nail and provided with an opening smaller than but corresponding approximately in shape with a nail on one of the digits to expose a portion of the nail, the tip portion of said opening being insertable below the nail and between the end of the digit and the tip of the nail, and the side border of said opening being sufliciently deformable as to permit insertion between the cuticle and the nail and slightly underneath the cuticle and to form a liquid-tight joint with the cuticle if pressed in contact therewith and slightly underneath the same whereby on application of 7 liquid coloring to the nail the cuticle and the flesh adjacent the-nail are protected against staining.

HELEN MARSHALL MABRY. 

